State Representative, Texas House District 9

Trent Ashby is a Republican who represents Texas House District 9 in the Texas House and is running for the Texas Senate seat in District 3¹². He lists his work as a state representative and as a senior vice president at Vera Bank, and he holds a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M². He faces Democrat Bobby Tillman on Nov. 3, 2026³.

Where they stand 22 issues · tap any issue for the evidence

• Election rulesStrict photo ID, paper ballots, cleaner voter rolls and fewer mail ballotsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on the final version of SB 1 (2021, second called session), the election law that added ID requirements for mail ballots and banned drive-through and 24-hour voting; the House adopted the conference committee report 80 to 41. (2021-08-31) source
  • Is listed as a House cosponsor of SB 1 (2021, second called session), relating to election integrity and security, including by preventing fraud in the conduct of elections in this state; increasing criminal penalties; creating criminal offenses. (2021) source
• GunsRemove most restrictions; bearing arms is a rightmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on the final version of HB 1927 (2021), which allows adults 21 and older to carry handguns without a license; the House adopted the conference committee report 82 to 62. (2021-05-23) source
  • Is listed as a House coauthor of HB 1927 (2021), relating to provisions governing the carrying of a firearm by a person who is 21 years of age or older and not otherwise prohibited by state or federal law from possessing the firearm and to other provisions related to the carrying, possessing, transporting, or storing of a firearm or other weapon; creating criminal offenses. (2021) source
• AbortionIllegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on HB 1280 (2021), the law banning abortion if Roe v. Wade was overturned, with an exception only to save the life or a major bodily function of the mother; it passed the House 81 to 61. (2021-05-06) source
  • Is listed as a House coauthor of HB 1280 (2021), relating to prohibition of abortion. (2021) source
  • Voted yes on SB 8 (2021), the Texas Heartbeat Act, which bans most abortions after cardiac activity is detected and is enforced through private lawsuits; it passed the House 83 to 64. (2021-05-06) source
  • Is listed as a House cosponsor of SB 8 (2021), relating to abortion, including abortions after detection of an unborn child's heartbeat. (2021) source
  • Voted yes on HB 7 (2025, second called session), which restricted the making and distribution of abortion-inducing drugs and allows private lawsuits; it passed the House 82 to 48. (2025-08-28) source
  • Is listed as a House coauthor of HB 7 (2025, second called session), relating to prohibitions on the manufacture and provision of abortion-inducing drugs. (2025) source
  • Is listed as a House coauthor of HB 5510 (2025), relating to abortion, including civil liability for distribution of abortion-inducing drugs. (2025) source
• Curriculum and booksParents, including the right to remove material they object tomedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on SB 13 (2025), which set up local school library advisory councils and parental rights over school library materials; it passed the House 86 to 55. (2025-05-28) source
  • Voted yes on HB 900 (2023), which regulates library materials sold to or kept in public school libraries; it passed the House 95 to 52. (2023-04-20) source
• DEI programsBan DEI offices and required training at public institutionsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on SB 17 (2023), which banned diversity, equity and inclusion offices and related practices at public colleges; it passed the House 83 to 62. (2023-05-22) source
  • Voted yes on SB 12 (2025), which set parental rights rules and prohibited diversity, equity and inclusion duties in K-12 public schools; it passed the House 88 to 47. (2025-05-25) source
• Religion in schoolsSupport laws requiring the Ten Commandments in classrooms and optional prayer periodsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on SB 10 (2025), which requires the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms; it passed the House 82 to 46. (2025-05-25) source
  • Voted yes on SB 11 (2025), which allows schools to set a period for prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious texts; it passed the House 88 to 48. (2025-05-23) source
  • Is listed as a House cosponsor of SB 11 (2025), relating to a period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text in public schools. (2025) source
• Transgender athletesNo, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on HB 25 (2021, third called session), which requires K-12 athletes to compete based on biological sex; it passed the House 76 to 54. (2021-10-14) source
  • Is listed as a House coauthor of HB 25 (2021, third called session), relating to requiring public school students to compete in interscholastic athletic competitions based on biological sex. (2021) source
  • Voted yes on SB 15 (2023), which requires college athletes at public universities to compete based on biological sex; it passed the House 95 to 50. (2023-05-18) source
  • Is listed as a House cosponsor of SB 15 (2023), relating to requiring public institution of higher education students who compete in intercollegiate athletic competitions to compete based on biological sex. (2023) source
• Gender care for minorsNo, ban these treatments for minorsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on SB 14 (2023), which banned gender transition procedures and treatments for minors; it passed the House 87 to 56. (2023-05-15) source
  • Is listed as a House cosponsor of SB 14 (2023), relating to prohibitions on the provision to certain children of procedures and treatments for gender transitioning. (2023) source
• China policyGet tougher: broad tariffs, state bans on land purchases, and forced app salesmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on SB 17 (2025), which restricts purchases of Texas real property by certain foreign governments, entities and people, including from China; it passed the House 86 to 59. (2025-05-09) source
  • Is listed as a House cosponsor of SB 17 (2025), relating to the purchase or acquisition of an interest in real property by certain aliens or foreign entities. (2025) source
• ImmigrationSecure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadymedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on SB 4 (2023, fourth called session), which made illegal entry into Texas a state crime and allowed state judges to order people to leave the country; it passed the House 83 to 61. (2023-11-14) source
  • Voted yes on SB 8 (2025), which requires certain sheriffs to enter agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; it passed the House 86 to 47. (2025-05-25) source
  • Is listed as a House cosponsor of SB 8 (2025), relating to agreements between certain sheriffs and the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce federal immigration law and a grant program to cover the costs of implementing those agreements. (2025) source
• RedistrictingState legislatures draw maps and may redraw any time, including for partisan advantagemedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on HB 4 (2025, second called session), the mid-decade redrawing of Texas congressional districts; it passed the House 88 to 52. (2025-08-20) source
  • Is listed as a House coauthor of HB 4 (2025, second called session), relating to the composition of the districts for the election of members of the United States House of Representatives from the State of Texas. (2025) source
• Policing and crimeTougher sentences, more police funding, and stricter bailmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on HB 1900 (2021), which penalizes large cities that cut police budgets; it passed the House 90 to 49. (2021-05-07) source
  • Is listed as a House coauthor of HB 1900 (2021), relating to municipalities that adopt budgets that defund municipal police departments. (2021) source
  • Voted yes on SB 9 (2025), which tightened bail procedures and regulated charitable bail groups; it passed the House 118 to 25. (2025-05-20) source
• Kids onlineBan social media accounts for minorsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on HB 186 (2025), which would have prohibited minors from using social media platforms; it passed the House but did not become law 116 to 25. (2025-04-30) source
  • Is listed as a House coauthor of HB 186 (2025), relating to prohibiting use of social media platforms by children. (2025) source
• Texas power gridPay for more backup natural gas plantsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on SB 2627 (2023), which created state loans for new or upgraded dispatchable power plants; it passed the House 118 to 23. (2023-05-23) source
• School vaccinesKeep requirements with simple personal-belief exemptionsmedium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on HB 1586 (2025), which made the school vaccine exemption affidavit form easier to obtain; it passed the House 83 to 54. (2025-05-14) source
  • Is listed as a House coauthor of HB 1586 (2025), relating to an exemption from required immunizations for school enrollment. (2025) source
• Property taxesKeep cutting them and cap how fast they can risemedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • In a February 2026 voter guide he said the Legislature should keep raising homestead exemptions and compressing school M&O taxes, and he would file legislation to reform appraisals. (2026-02) source
  • Voted yes on SB 10 (2025, second called session), which lowered the voter-approval tax rate limit for certain local governments; it passed the House but did not become law 78 to 52. (2025-08-25) source
• E-Verify mandateRequire it for all employersmedium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Is listed as a House coauthor of HB 3210 (2025), relating to requiring state contractors, political subdivisions of this state, and private employers to participate in the federal electronic verification of employment authorization program, or E-verify. (2025) source
• Housing and growthAllow townhomes and apartments in more places to bring prices downlow

  Voted · low confidence

  • Voted yes on SB 15 (2025), which bars certain large cities from requiring large minimum lot sizes for new homes, on third reading; it passed the House 86 to 43. (2025-05-28) source
  • Voted yes on the final version of SB 15 (2025), which bars certain large cities from requiring large minimum lot sizes for new homes; the House adopted the conference committee report 78 to 57. (2025-06-01) source
• AI data centersWelcome them, but make them pay their full share of grid and water costslow

  Voted · low confidence

  • Voted yes on SB 6 (2025), which set rules for how very large electricity users such as data centers connect to the grid and share related costs; it passed the House 103 to 25. (2025-05-27) source
• School choiceNo single answer fitsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on Amendment No. 45 to HB 1 (2023, regular session), which barred the use of appropriated money for school vouchers and education savings accounts; it was adopted 86 to 52. (2023-04-06) source
  • Voted no on Amendment No. 2 (the Raney amendment) to HB 1 (2023, fourth called session), which removed the education savings account program from the bill; the House adopted it 84 to 63. (2023-11-17) source
  • Voted yes on SB 2 (2025), which created a state education savings account program that can pay for private school; it passed the House 86 to 61. (2025-04-17) source
  • Is listed as a House cosponsor of SB 2 (2025), relating to the establishment of an education savings account program. (2025) source
• MarijuanaNo single answer fitsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted no on HB 441 (2021), which reduced the penalty for possessing small amounts of marijuana; it passed the House 88 to 40. (2021-04-30) source
  • Voted no on HB 218 (2023), which reduced penalties and licensing consequences for possessing small amounts of marijuana; it passed the House 87 to 59. (2023-04-27) source
  • Voted yes on SB 3 (2025), which would have banned most consumable hemp products containing THC; it passed the House and was later vetoed by the governor 87 to 54. (2025-05-22) source
• Mandatory minimumsNo single answer fitsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on HB 6 (2023), which created new offenses and increased criminal penalties for certain fentanyl-related offenses; it passed the House 124 to 21. (2023-04-28) source

No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Energy and climate, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Nuclear power.